Utility Fleet Professional Fall 2015 : Page 44

7KH&#03;0LOOHQQLDO&#03;&KDOOHQJH&#1d; by Sean M. Lyden $WWUDFWLQJ&#03;DQG&#03;5HWDLQLQJ&#03;<RXQJHU&#03;:RUNHUV&#03; LQ&#03;8WLOLW\&#03;)OHHW&#03;2SHUDWLRQV Jim Finkelstein Matt Gilliland WR&#03;OHDG&#03;PRUH&#03;HIIHFWLYHO\&#03;DFURVV&#03;JHQHUDWLRQV&#11; ´6HHN&#03;ÀUVW&#03;WR&#03;XQGHUVWDQG&#0f;&#03;WKHQ&#03;WR&#03;EH&#03;XQGHUVWRRG&#11;µ This is the ﬁfth habit in Stephen R. Covey’s perennial best-seller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” And it could also serve as a guiding principle for today’s baby boomer and Gen X ﬂeet managers as they grapple with replacing a large swath of workers retiring over the next few years with millennials who bring a substantially different perspective toward their work and lives. Also known as Generation Y, millennials — ages 18 to 34 as of 2015 — are projected to surpass the baby boomers — ages 51 to 69 — as the nation’s largest living generation this year by a total of 75.3 million to 74.9 million, according to Pew Research Center. They represent a much larger generation than their Gen X parents — ages 35 to 50 — who aren’t expected to eclipse the boomer population until 2028. Millennials are often labeled as too idealistic, entitled, lazy and obsessed 44 ÀYH&#03;UHDO&#10;ZRUOG&#03;VWUDWHJLHV 6XEMHFW&#03;PDWWHU&#03;H[SHUWV&#03;RIIHU&#03; Paul Jefferson with instant gratiﬁcation. But as the seismic generational shift occurs in the job market, smart ﬂeet managers must look beyond the perceptions and “seek ﬁrst to understand” to compete for the best young talent. So, whether you’re a boomer, Gen Xer or millennial yourself, how can you more effectively attract, retain and motivate millennials? Consider these ﬁve strategies. &#14;&#11; &#03;7DON&#03;DERXW&#03;\RXU&#03;LQGXVWU\&#0f;&#03;RUJDQL]DWLRQ&#03; DQG&#03;WKH&#03;MRE&#03;LQ&#03;WKH&#03;FRQWH[W&#03;RI&#03;SXUSRVH&#11; Millennials are looking for more than just a paycheck; they want to be part of something they perceive will make a difference in their communities and the world. “The main characteristic we’re observing in millennials is that they’re Utility Fleet Professional | FALL 2015